Slim Pickings

[superiorgirl]

It seems like I'm not finding many treasures lately. I had a half hour at Vinnies today and had to really work to find anything of interest. I finally ended up with a pair of slacks for my mom and a string of heart lights for Valentine's Day. It seems like they never get rid of the cr*p - some of the same broken or dollar store junk is on the shelves season after season. Oh, I know they are constantly turning over merchandise, and they color code the clothing tags, but ONLY the clothes get color coded. How have you been doing in the hunt for the goodies?

[valleythriftshopper]

This time of year can be pretty slow thriftwise, especially if you live somewhere cold.  It's good time of the year to complete any trash to treasure projects, then you feel like you got something new.  A local community center here is doing a free decoupage class, I emailed for a spot, I hope I get one!  I guess just check the thrifts as often as possible, if something good comes in, it will go fast.  February can be a good clearance month at retail stores, Christmas returns are reduced even more.  TJ Maxx & Marshall's sometimes have an extra 25% off clearance sale in February, that's their best one. 

[daswitzer]

    Went to GW today and was very disappointed.  They still have a bit of Christmas here and there, but it's full price!  They have quit selling record albums at this GW.  They have cut the amount of books that they sell in half.  I spent a total of $7.07 and that is way down from what  I usually spend.  I know that donations have to slow down at this store in the winter, because they get most of their donations from what's left after rummage sales.  Slim pickings, for sure.   BOO HOO!

[Zed Simon]

I think the Christmas stuff at my one Goodwill was full price too. Lots of it...there was almost a whole wallful in back, plus some in front. Too bad. I would have nabbed those two Bob Rivers & Twisted Radio CDs. I got more than enough LPs to make up for that, though.

The other Goodwill may have stopped selling records too, if only because they're expanding their donation center into the retail space. Safe to say I'll be taking a sabbatical from that store for a few months.

I have a Sally that's closing to remodel and when last I was there, they had practically nada of everything, not just records. I'll be back in spring or so to see how things are then.

[valleythriftshopper]

One Salvation Army here is doing 50% off Christmas stuff, nothing really worth buying, except maybe lights while they are cheap.  The food bank thrift cleared out all the Christmas stuff right after Christmas, I think they put it away for the next year or gave it to the Salvation Army, which they do sometimes.  This thrift has some interesting jewlery sometimes.  Today I found a Victorian/Edwardian era brooch with a large oak leaf & acorn motif, it has an old c-clasp, really neat.  Not sterling so not really valuable but for 50 cents something interesting for the day!  I was just looking for it & now I can't remember where the heck I put it already.  Senility is setting in!

[mccoysnina]

Slim pickins here.  I've been to the ts 3 times in the last two weeks and found zip.  This is sad. They were even closed New Years Say when they have had sales in the past.  Bummer:(
Jeannie

[anastasiabeaverhausen]

Still slim pickings here too, the GW's are the worst. found a nice amber set for a friend at Sals  3 yard sales last weekend...cmon spring...did get a free box of shiney brites...my first box...and got the box too! pointed shiney brites out to my hubby in an antique store..selling for 3.50 to 5 bucks a piece...he was impressed..lol
found lotsa planters and a great hull bean pot at an auction...but still slim in the thrift stores....

[Big Daddy Audio]

Slim pickings?  Not so much at the stores I've been to.  But I'm in a warmer climate with quite a few "snowbirds."  Electronics have been fair at best, with the exception of TVs and VCRs (which are now considered old technology).  Computer monitors have also been widely available. 

Cassettes are not as plentiful as they were just 8-12 months ago.  Records are still available, but it's mostly crappy copies of stuff I already have, or crappy copies of stuff I don't yet have, or way over-priced for good copies of stuff I don't have and don't care that much about.

The GWs out here did two weekends in a row with 50% off days - The last Saturday of 2008 and the first Saturday of 2009. 

Like I said, when we did our last drop off on 12-31, the stuff was spilling out of the building they had so much swag.  I don't know, maybe it's just us down here.  That being said, they didn't get much in the way of good electronics (from what I've seen on the shelves).

SYNT
BFN 

[valleythriftshopper]

A thrift store can get a ton of donations & still have slim pickings if it is all crap.  Hopefully there will be some good stuff in all those piles.

[Landlady]

My favorite thrift threw out all their leftover Christmas last Tuesday, after having it 75% off. I found out because I was pulling around back to get a bookshelf I'd bought at the back door and HOLEY MOLEY a dumpster full of Christmas. I scored a bunch of stuff, some of it brand new in the package, before the manager came back to chase me off. When she saw it was me, I'm a regular, she was pleasant about it, and since I'd taken all I wanted, I complied. Mike, you'd know them..

[valleythriftshopper]

If they threw it in the dumpster, why do they care if you wanted to take it?  Luckily the thrifts around here don't care about stuff like that.  Good job grabbing it while you had the chance!

[mccoysnina]

Well. it just goes to show you.  I no sooner finish complaining about there being slim pickins at the ts and what happens.  I find something.  Yesterday I was antsy to get out for a while so took myself off to my favorite ts.  I wasn't expecting to find anything, was only there Friday.  But what do I find but some pretty (very pretty!) blue and white ware.  Two small plates, 4 bowls and 2 larger plates, all marked $.40 each, except for the small plates taped together and marked $.40 for both.  I snatched it all up.  In the linens aisle I found a doll panel,  Dasiy Kingdom for those of you who know the company.  A sew it yourself doll, with instructions and clothes all on one panel ready to  cut and sew.  Cute anyway.  But the kicker?  The dolls name!  Veronica Louise.  Why is that the kicker?  That is my daughter's name.  Down to her middle name of Louise.  Fate.  Had to be.  In the check out lane the lady in back of me kept eyeing my china.  Finally asked to pick it up and she got that look on her face that screams "Do you know what you have?"  Didn't quite then but I got home and Googled it.  Royal Warwick china, the Lochs of Scotland pattern, 3 of them, Loch Katrin, Loch Awe and Loch Linnhe.  One china service store notes thay can't keep it in stock.  Not too inclined to turn loose of it but nice to know I could sell it for more than the $2.80  I paid for it if I want to.  My dd however has her own idea of what I should do with it.  Save it for her when she gets her own place.  So I guess Veronica Loiuse and Veronica Louise could have tea together.  A kind of symmetry to that I guess.  Well, anyway I found a bargain at a ts.  All is still right with the world. 
Jeannie

[valleythriftshopper]

One SA put out some new bric a brac donations in today.  Nothing for me but some stuff I know other people on this site are into.   A mixed box of Blue Heaven dishes & some Salem china pieces in a similar style all for 3.99.  The blue heaven veggie bowl on top had a chip.  The dinner plates were wrapped in newspaper so I did not examine them.  Might have been a platter too.  Also a small box of milk glass with grapes stuff for 1.99, a large pitcher, three goblets & a compote, none marked. 

I did find another Dooney & Bourke item, a like new bee wrislet for 99 cents.  I thought it was a wallet & hid it under a bunch of stuff until I got home to check on the value.  I found the same item on Ebay & discovered it is a wristlet
http://cgi.ebay.com/Dooney-Bourke-Bumble-Bee-Wristlet_W0QQitemZ200293017072QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUS_CSA_WH_Handbags?hash=item200293017072&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=66%3A2%7C65%3A13%7C39%3A1%7C240%3A1318

The only problem is the one at the SA was missing the wrist strap, so I guess it is not worth going back for- a near miss!

A big storm is heading this way for tomorrow so the thrifts will probably all close, hopefully better luck at the end of the week.

[Punk Glam Queen]

Slim pickings indeed, haven't found much lately at all. I always do much better around here in summer and fall. I went to my local GW late last week and have decided I will no longer shop at nor bring donations to that particular store. I'm tired of the insanely high prices (often times the prices are higher on used items than what they originally cost new) and the fact that every time I'm checking out, they change the prices! If the item is marked one price they immediately say that that's the wrong price and tell me I have to pay a higher price. I've left tons of stuff behind on principle, and frankly I'm tired of being treated like some kind of thief as they always use the excuse that people change the stickers. I do not see how those gooey stickers can get changed so easily, as I have to soak items in hot water and then use "goo gone" to get them off, and they certainly don't come off whole. They also have told me I have to pay for each item in a set, even when it is clearly priced as a set! I really need to find where I can write a letter of complaint, as this is unacceptable; who ever heard of doubling or tripling the marked price at checkout in any retail setting? And this is the only branch that seems to do this, so I really wonder what's up. Grr!

[valleythriftshopper]

Yes you really should complain to the adminstrative office for your area's Goodwills.  One of the local SA's here has had managers in the past who aren't cut out for the job and take it out on the customers.  The regional manager should be aware of it, especially if the other Goodwills are not like that.